YORK'S Local Transport Plan was due to be unveiled today, with a mixed initial reaction from opposition councillors.

Details of the proposals have yet to be revealed by City of York Council, though members of the opposition Liberal Democrat group have expressed concern about some aspects of the likely package.

They have said it could include two new park and ride sites, both of which could affect the Green Belt.

Previous discussions have centred on possible sites at Monks Cross (A1036), Tadcaster Road (A64) and Fulford Road (A19) - but sources have suggested to the Evening Press that the report may focus on a potential site off the A59 Harrogate Road, as well as that at Monks Cross.

The council revealed last week that over half of the 8,000 questionnaires on the plan returned to the authority indicated a preference for the most expensive option for limiting traffic growth in York.

This proposal, costing between £7 million and £10 million, could involve the introduction of charges for entering the city.

Coun Dave Merrett, executive member for planning, transport and the environment, and senior planning and transport officers, were scheduled to reveal the details of the actual plan, which must be submitted to the Government this month, at the city's Guildhall this afternoon.

Coun Merrett said yesterday he was not in a position to discuss those details, because he did not have the report and had not yet received certain information he had requested.

Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Steve Galloway said though he had not seen the plan, his group had speculated on what may be in it following briefings with officers.

There were "several encouraging features", but he added: "Our major criticism of the plan is that - with the document due to be recorded with the Government Office at the end of the month - inadequate time exists for a proper public discussion of the proposals.

"Given that the Government expects some consistency in local transport plans, effectively the council is making an irrevocable commitment to a particular five-year strategy - and without the matter having so far been put through the new modernised decision-making process."

Coun Galloway said over the next two weeks his group must decide whether to call in the report for detailed discussion and risk missing the submission deadline, or let it proceed with question marks over "the practicality of some of the proposals".